ENDO Messages for March, 2006: Re: Diet Changes

Re: Diet Changes

From: Elaine (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri Mar 31 21:21:07 2006

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Previous message: Loretta: "Re: Depression Meds?"
In reply to: Sami: "Re: Diet Changes"

There is a website that you can read (if you haven't already) about endometriosis and diet. Here it is: http://www.endo-resolved.com/diet.html

In my personal situation, I am dealing with endometriosis post hysterectomy and several months ago was also diagnosed with a fungal yeast overgrowth of the intestines, otherwise known as candida. I was having constant nausea, body aches, low grade fevers, strange looking stools (that floated on top of water and had tiny holes perforating them all over; also had little round disks of stool floating in water). I had a stool test done which measured extremely high levels of yeast in it. So I was started on a yeast and sugar free diet as well as taking antifungals and probiotics. In the process of researching and doing this diet, I learned that there is an indirect connection between endometriosis and candida. The use of birth control pills, hormone imbalance, and the use of antibiotics can alter the intestinal flora in your body and cause all sorts of symptoms. Also, since endometriosis is considered an autoimmune problem, the body is often unable to fight off harmful bacteria as the immune system is already taxed by dealing with what it perceives as foreign tissue (endo lesions) in places where it shouldn't be. Some women with endometriosis also suffer low grade fevers, especially in response to ovulation and periods. There is a book called "The Yeast Connection and Women's Health" which has a chapter that discusses endometriosis and yeast problems. A diet change that drastically reduces sugar, eliminates yeast, and eliminates sources of foods that have hormones in them (such as some dairy products and meats from animals where hormone are used) can sometimes provide relief for endometriosis. I am only six weeks into my diet and haven't seen a huge difference yet, but the low grade fevers have disappeared and I have slightly more energy. Here is a breakdown of the foods I need to avoid: all pastas, breads, pastries, candy, cookies, most packaged and processed foods unless they are organic and do not have yeast/extract, gluten, wheat, or hidden sugar ingrediants in them (difficult to find these products but there are a few like salt free organic brown rice cakes), fruit juices, soda pop, anything that has these ingrediants in it: corn syrup, fructose, sucrose, sucralose, anything ending in ose..., vinegar, salad dressings except olive oil or lemon juice, most condiments, corn, starchy foods like potatoes or yams, syrups, honey, mushrooms (contain molds), dried fruits, citrus fruits, peanuts, melons, most dairy products except limited use of unsalted butter, rice or soy milk, and plain organic yogurt with no flavorings (the live good bacterial cultures in yogurt are beneficial), vegetable oils, canned vegetables and soups.

Here is a breakdown of what I can eat: Whole grains like long grain brown rice or wild rice, millet, barley, oats, (not the kind that comes in commercial packages with other ingrediants, but the organic kind you buy in bulk), raw nuts and seeds (not roasted) like hemp, macedamia, brazil, hazelnut, almonds (also good source of calcium), pine nuts, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds, most fresh or frozen vegetables (I eat at least two servings daily of leafy greens), limited fresh fruits like pears, lemons, avocados, or berries, fresh organic meat (from free range animals without hormones added), plain organic yogurt without flavorings, rice or soy milk, plain unsalted butter, eggs (prefered organic source), cold pressed oils like olive, safflower, coconut, flaxseed, sesame, almond butter (tastes somewhat like peanut butter), natural sweetener herbs like stevia or vegetable glycerin, fresh organic herbal teas, lots of water, fresh homemade veggie juices, legumes (lentils, chick peas, green beans, kidney beans, black eyed peas...preferably bought in bulk and soaked overnight before cooking), fresh spices like parsley, garlic, nutmeg, rosemary, dill weed, and brown rice cakes.

There is also a website with member forums that deals with the issue of yeast overgrowth as well as gluten intolerance and diet tips and recipes and there are forums there that discuss endometriosis and other women's health issues. Here is that link for further research: http://wholeapproachforums.com/groupee/forums http://wholeapproachforums.com/groupee/forums/a/frm/f/522106196 (women's reproductive health issues in relation to diet)

I hope this info helps. Changing your diet and lifestyle to help battle the endo does take a lot of time and commitment, but it is well worth it, if not only for the endometriosis aspect, but for your overall health. Eliminating as many harmful chemicals, unneeded ingrediants, and toxins from your diet as possible will help lessen the work your body needs to do to process and eliminate harmful substances, and will give it a much needed break so that it can focus on working more efficiently. Like I said, I am fairly new at this diet stuff but I am spending a considerable amount of time and effort in choosing, preparing, and researching what I put into my body and hope that in the next few months it begins to pay off. I do have to supplement with some calcium and vitamin c due to my severe restrictions at this point, and I do want to mention that even vitamins can have sugars, yeast, and other harmful toxins in them so it is important to read the ingrediants on these too and choose vitamins from reputable companies that are pure and free of unneccesary ingrediants. A doctor, naturopath, pharmacist, or dietician can help when it comes to supplements. I hope I didn't bombard you with too much info but I am passionate about this right now as nothing else so far has worked for me, not even a hysterecomy. Glad to see you are showing an interest! Thanks for reading and email me if you have any questions. Hugs, Elaine

At Fri, 31 Mar 2006, Sami wrote: >
>Hello Steph,
>I am vegetarian (& have been my whole life) so i do not eat red meat,
>fish/seafood or chicken at all. I don't eat eggs, and have little dairy
>in de-caffinated tea or on cereal.
>
>I eat mostly vegetables & fruits/salads. I try to incorporated
>pulses/legumes into my diet but find that they can affect GI tract which
>is painful for me as i have had Endo on my bowels/intestines etc
>
>When i was first diagnosed with Endo i went to a Dietitian who advised i
>cut ALL dairy out 100%, which i did but a year later Endo was back worse
>than before & i decided to allow myself some dairy as i desired it. I
>can crave cheese which i love with tomato& gherkins.
>
>I do not drink coffee, & limit alcohol.
>
>Good topic for discussion as we can learn something new all the time...
> sami koala
>
>At Fri, 31 Mar 2006, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>>
>>Hi Steph,
>>
>>I work with a registered dietician who helps a lot of women with endo.
>>
>>You are right...red meat is a no no for us Endo girls. So is caffeine,
>>alcohol, and too much dairy. For me, I have also found that cutting out
>>90% of wheat from my diet has also worked wonders.
>>
>>There are certain fruits and vegetables that are bad for you (with endo)
>>because they have a higher content of dioxins used in their production.
>>
>>I know it seems like there isn't much left to eat but there really
>>is...it just takes some getting used to.
>>
>>If you want, email me at alexisconrad@gmail.com and I will forward you
>>some more information.
>>
>>:)
>>
>>Alexis.
>>
>>At Fri, 31 Mar 2006, Steph wrote:
>>>
>>>I've been reading a lot about diet and endometriosis. I'm sure you
>>>ladies have been over this time again. But, as I'm new to the board, do
>>>you mind humoring me and talking about it one more time? :)
>>>I'm seeing that red meat consumption can cause endo to be worse and that
>>>a higher green veggie/frest fruit consumption can help.
>>>Has anyone altered their diet? Does it seem to help with the pain?
>>>
>>>I had a bad day today with the bowel. :( I'm chugging Imodium as I
>>>type...one day it will be better, right?
>>>
>>>--
>>>Steph
>>>

Previous message: Loretta: "Re: Depression Meds?"
In reply to: Sami: "Re: Diet Changes"

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